Alissa, of Handmade by Alissa, had this notion that those of us who embrace modern quilting and have connected through the virtual world of the Internet, might want to connect in person. Alissa and her friend Latifah Saafir started the Los Angeles Modern Quilt Guild last October. Alissa posted about the LA guild’s first meeting on her blog and a seed was planted.

First meeting of the LA MQG.

Those of us who quilt alone in our basements envied the LA group with real people and real quilts in the same room. We wanted that kind of connection too and the opportunity to share our work and learn from each other. Alissa simply told us all… Why don’t you do what we did? So we did, and they came.

There are now 59 Modern Quilt Guilds across the United States as well as in Australia, Canada, Switzerland, the UK, and Germany. To find out if there is a Modern Quilt Guild near you go to the MQG site and look in the sidebar for the list of guild locations. If there’s not a location near you, grab a friend or two and start one of your own. There’s more info on the MQG site to help you.

First Meeting of the Orlando MQG.

The first tasks of the MQG were to get organized, help other groups get organized and begin to explore the definition of modern quilting. A planning team was established to help with those tasks and to help shoulder the load of organizing a budding network of guilds. Each of the members of the planning team posted their responses to the question, ‘What Does Modern Quilting Mean to Me?’ and encouraged other modern quilters in the online quilting community to share their ideas as well. You can read those responses on the MQG site and join in the conversation here.

First meeting of the Asheville Group.

So, why a MODERN quilt guild? Aren’t there quilt guilds all over the country already? There are and many modern quilters are members, but the focus of those guilds is primarily traditional quilting. While those of us who self-identify as modern quilters admire and respect traditional quilting, we wanted an organization geared specifically to our aesthetic and a group where we could connect with like-minded quilters.

Currently on the Modern Quilt Guild site, local MQG leaders are posting about happenings in their local guilds. There are meetings, workshops, sewing days, creative challenges, swaps and charity work. There are small groups and large groups and everything in between. We’re proud of the quilters who have taken on the challenge of organizing local groups and growing the modern quilting movement.

Project Plume Show and Tell in Kansas City.

We are a young organization and are working hard to become established and grow simultaneously. It’s an exciting time for us. We’ve started a Flickr group to showcase our quilts, and we have big plans for the future and exciting events coming soon. Look for an announcement in July on the Modern Quilt Guild site. You’ll want to be a part of this!

I’ll leave you with the words of one of our founders after her first meeting… Alissa wrote,

I recently joined up with the Salt Lake City Modern Quilt Guild, and I am soooo excited for our first meeting this Saturday. I am new to quilting, but OLD to fabric and sewing. And my tastes run with the modern quilters. I’m all about wonky. I’m really glad that there are these opportunities to meet with other women doing the same thing. Thanks!

I love being a part of the LA MQG… What an amazing group of women (and some men) artists we’ve got… After my first meeting, I was so inspired that I went home and sewed THREE quilt tops before the next meeting!

Love your definition of the modern quilt guild! We have our first meeting in Ft. Collins, CO tomorrow nite 4/30. If you’re from the northern Colorado area..check out the website and join us… All are welcome!

Although I LOVE living out here in the sticks, sometimes I wish I lived in a big city for things like this. I know of 2 guilds around where I live, but they are NOT in any way modern! I love rural life, but I wouldn’t mind some modern inspiration once in awhile!

we’re having a great time with the houston chapter – so far, the “regulars” are a small group that have bonded instantly. we even have a single male member who is learning to sew, let along quilt!! if you’re in the area, check us out and come to our meetings!

That’s so great… I consider myself a “modern quilt guild” member – but that’s because my “guild” is online rather than geographically based. Whatever support we can give each other to pursue our passions – whatever they may be – is wonderful!

Thanks for the great interview! I’m a member of the MQG here in Toronto, ON, Canada, and it’s so good to meet like-minded people in person and talk about things that I wouldn’t have anyone else to talk to otherwise! It’s been great and I look forward to seeing the MQG evolve and being a part of it!

Subscribe to the sewmamasew.com newsletter

Get the latest sewmamasew.com news via

Sew Mama Sew is a blog and sewing community founded in 2005. We collaborate with outstanding bloggers, designers and authors to deliver unique, high-quality sewing content on a daily basis.

Meet Kristin + Beth

We always travel with handmade bags. We have vintage embroidery framed on our walls, piles of fabric next to the sewing machine and more WIPs than we'll ever finish. We love the history, craft and artistry of sewing. Read More

Our Mission:

Promote sewing and other needle crafts by providing instruction, inspiration and encouragement.

Celebrate the work of talented quilters, sewists, writers and designers.

Connect the historical foundations of quilting, sewing and needle crafts to current trends.

Demonstrate ways to use new products, including fabric, patterns, books and tools.

Respect our readers, contributors and partners.

Sponsor + Partner Opportunities

If you represent a business that is passionate about sewing, quilting or needlework, we'd love to hear from you! We work with like-minded business in a variety of ways, including:

Brand Promotion: We'll help get your name and image out there through ads and sponsored posts.

Product Promotion: We can spread the word about your new product release or arrival to your shop through giveaways, reviews, interviews and social media.

Creative Content: Let's put our heads together to help you meet your business goals! We can collaborate on tutorials, contests, surveys and more.

To learn more about our business partner opportunities, please Contact Us.

Join Our Contributor Community!

Contributing a project or article to Sew Mama Sew is a fun way participate in the sewing community while gaining exposure for your blog or brand. We’d love for you to join us! Learn How